Machine for loading wrappers or pouches



Feb. 22, 1938. HARDY I 2,109,231

MACHINE FOR LOADING WRAPPERS 0R POUCHES Filed Jan. 9. 1930 e Sheets-Sheet 1 & :1

I: I. l Q 1 I: II Q} I VENTOR [sane "/4. may

ATTORNEYS MACHINE FOR LOADING WRAPPERS OR POUCHES 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 l. A. HARDY Filed Jan. 9. 1950 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS ill rllln Feb. 22, 1938.

Feb. 22, 1938. A, HARDY 2,109,231

MACHINEIOR LOADING WBAPPBRS OR POUCHES Filed Jan. 9. 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEYS.

l. A. HARDY 2,109,231

MACHINE FOR LOADING. WRAPPERS 0R POUCHES I 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Feb. 22, 1938] Filed Jan. 9. 1930 INVEyOR 150m A. may

ATTORNEYS Feb. 22, 1938.

I. A. HARDY MACHINE FOR LOADING WRAPPERS OR POUC'HES 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 9. 1930 llll ATTORN EYS Feb. 22, 1938. i I y l. A. HARDY v 2,109,231

MACHINE FOR LOADING WRAPPERS OB. POUCHES Filed Jan. 9. 1930 'e Sheets-Sheet 6 W BY ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 22, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOR LOADING WRAPPERS on POUCHES Delaware Application January 9,

18 Claims.

The present invention relates to the packaging of materials in wrappers or pouches. The particular object of the invention is to provide a machine for inserting cigars in pouches such, for example, as tubular containers or envelopes, and while the machine is designed for this particular purpose and with this object in view, it is not limited or confined to that operation alone, the principles of the invention being adaptable for other uses.

The machine is illustrated in conjunction or combined with a cigar banding machine, so that the banded cigars as they issue from that machine are automatically inserted in the pouches.

' The machine is also'shown as intended for the insertion of the cigars in tubular envelopes which are sealed at one end, although the principles of the invention may be used in packaging materials in other forms of envelopes.

The machine may also be combined with mechanism for folding and sealing the wrapper after the insertion of the cigar, but these additions.

to the machine are not illustrated or described.

The machine is especially adapted for the handling oi sealed envelopes or wrappers made of thin transparent, moistureproof material such,

' for example as moistureproof regenerated cellulose sheeting, which material is delicate and easily torn, so that special features are necessarily incorporated in the machine for this purpose, but it, will be understood that the invention is "not limited to such restricted fields but may be emplayed in other fields and for other uses.

The invention is illustrated in considerable detail but it will be apparent that changes, modifications or improvements may be made therein withoutaltering the essential features of the invention or changing its principles.

' In the drawings, in which the best known or preferred form of the invention is shown;

Figurel is an end elevation of the machine; Figure 2 is a plan view thereof with the magazine removed;

Figure 3 is a transverse section on the line 3-3 of Figure ,2; I

1930, Serial No. 419,701

the combined guiding means for the cigar and spreader for the mouth of the tube;

Figure 9 is an enlargedhorizontal section through the magazine on the line 9-9 of Figure 4; s

' Figure is an enlarged view 01 the lower portion of the mechanism shown in Figure 4;

Figure 11 is a cross section through an unfilled container; and

Figure 12 is a cross section through a filled container.

In the drawings the cigars are shown at I and the container or pouch is shown at 2. The cigars are delivered from a banding machine (not .shown) .whichis to be located at the left of the.

machine as shown in Figure 2, being delivered in a file or row, with the trade-marked or decorative side of the bands uppermost, along a rail or guideway 3 and along the top of, the table 4, a thin spacer plate 5 being provided to elevate the cigars slightly above the surface of the table.

The .cigars are moved over by the delivery mechanism of the banding machine against a stop plate 6 which is spaced from the end of the rail 3, a distance equal approximately-to the thickness of a single cigar, so that the latter may be moved from the row into the loading mechanism.

' The'table 4 is supported upon vertical pillars I from the base 8 of the machine.

Pouch feeding mechanism The containers 2 are elongated flattened pouches having a folded and sealed end 9 and folded or plicated sides 10. On one ofthe panels is located the longitudinal seam l l which, in order to display the bands properly, should be located on the underside of the container when the cigar is inserted.

The pouches are assembled in stacks which are inserted in a vertically movable magazine which is indicated in general by the numeral l5, care than the length of a pouch so as to permit the passage of the pouch. Light metal strips or shelves l8 project beneath the cut out portions of the plates to support the stack of pouches by the ends thereof, permitting them to be withdrawn one at a time from the underside of the stack. The plates [6 are provided with vertical extensions I! which are secured to the cross head 20 near the corners of the stack and at the ends thereof are located the groups of vertical pillars 2| connected at their ,upper ends by the plate 22.

The magazine is designed to be raised and lowered by the apparatus during the operation of the machine and in timed relation to the balance of the apparatus and particularly to the operation of a transfer wheel to be described so that a single pouch or container is removed from the base of the stack. For this purpose the cross head 20 is connected by means of two spacer ,blocks 25 to a vertically movable slide 28 which reciprocates in guideways 21 in two vertical posts 23 rising from the base plate 4. To the rear of the slide 23 is secured the bracket 30 which carries a roller 3| on the end thereof directly over the main or cam shaft 32, the latter being mounted in brackets" rising from the base plate.

On the shaft 32 beneath the roller 3| is secured a cam 34 which lifts the magazine periodically.

At the lowermost point of its movement the magazine is supported by means of fingers 35 which are attached to the front of the cross head 20, the lower ends of the fingers resting upon hearing rings 38 set in an intermittently rotating drum or transfer wheel which is indicated by the numeral 38.

' Transfer drum The drum 38 which constitutes a carrier for the container is secured to the projecting end of a horizontal shaft 40 which is mounted in a front bracket 4| and a rear bracket 42. On the drum 38 are provided the four equally spaced arms 44' which are arranged to be brought successively. in register with the underside of the stack 'of pouches in the magazine. The faces of the arms are flattened as shown for holding the pouches by their panels. Extending through the drum and through the arms are passages 45, the outer ends, of which are closed by plugs 46. Radial passages 41 extending from the passages 45, open onto the face of the drum, being located at sufficient intervals to engage and hold the pouches as will be described.

Pressed against the rear face of the vdrum by a spring 49 and keyed upon a sleeve 43 on the bracket 4| is a plate 50 in the face of which is formed the semi-circular groove or passage 5| which registers with the ends of the passages during the 180 of revolution of the drum, in which the arms 44 are movedfrom their position beneath the stack of pouches to cigar loading position. A pipe 52 is carried upon the plate and is in communication with the groove II. The other end of the pipe is, connected to a header 53 to which is connected a main suction pipe 54 leading from a source of vacuum or partial vacuum. By the means described suction is created in the passages 45 to seize a pouch from the bottom of the stack when the latter is lowered and retain it against the'flattened face of the drum until it is' carried around to the lower side of the drum in the position to receive the cigar. As the drum moves from the loading position, the vacuum is released by the movement of the passage beyond the end of the groove 5|. The operation of the machine is so timed that the magazine will be lowered against the uppermost face of the drum and sufflciently close to the openings 41- to-per'mit the lowermost pouch to be removed from the stack, the cam 34 raising the magazine in timed relation to the step by step rotation of the drum so that the pouch is withdrawn.

Pouch opening mechanism When the pouch, which is held against the lower face of the drum at the loading position shown in Figure 4 is to receive the cigar, it must be opened and held in open position to a sufncient extent to permit the entrance of the cigar. This operation is performed by a small reciprocating sucker head which is shown at 60, being in the form of a stem having a passage 8| therein opening on its upper face through a plurality of small passageways 32. The sucker head is slidably mounted in a tube 64 located in the'table 4 near the mouth of the pouch and 'moves from pouch and spreads it on the downward movement of the suckerhead. In its vertical-movements the sucker head is guided by the pin and slot 5.

The lower end of the passage 6i communicates by a flexible hose 68 with a pipe 31, leading to the suction box 53. The surface of the suction head is relatively small so that in the practical operation of the machine the vacuum may remin on atall times, theforce exerted by the head being sufilcient to open the pouch'but not interfering with the release of the filled pouch.

The head is carried upon a pin 63 movable in a slot 63 and projecting from the end of a that position by a coil spring 12; The lever is actuated to 'raae'me sucker head'momentarily by a vertically movable plunger 14 having a roller 15 on its lower end engaging the lever, and

a roller 16 on its upper end which is located inthe path of a cam 18 on the cam shaft 32. The plunger is guided in a sleeve 19 passing through the plate 4 and is kept in alignment by a key and keyway 19.

Cigar loading mechanism In order to insure the entrance of the cigar in the mouth of the pouch and to prevent the band from catching on the edge of the pouch, the machine has incorporated with it a combined spreader for the mouth of the pouch and guide for the cigar. This instrumentality 'maybe in a number of forms, but a form which has been found to be satisfactory is in the nature of a funnel made in two parts, each of which is pivoted so as to spread apart during the passage of the cigar. The point or apex of the funnel is designed to enter the mouth of the pouch and spread it fully open to receive the cigar. This mechanism completes the opening of the pouch whichhasbeen commenced bythe operation of the sucker, and spreads the folds l0 along the sides fit the cigar snugly.

'of the pouchso that a pouch can be made to v The spreader or expanding funnel is shown or non-feeding position as shown in full lines in Figure 8 the pointed ends are in contact and areso located as to clear the mouth of the 7 pouch as it is brought around by the transfer drum. The edges of the blades are curved so that they can be moved in the manner to be described.

Each blade 80 is a part of or secured to a lu'g ill by which it is pivoted on a verticalpin 82 on the table. Coil springs 88 on the pinsiare at; tached to the blades and to an adjustable collar 84 fixed on the upper end of the pin. Stops 85 limit the forward movement of the bladesand stops 86 their rearward movement.

As is shown in Figure 8, the opening movement of the blades 80 to the dotted line'position, causes the forward ends of the blades to enter theopen mouth of the tube and spread it to permit the entrance of the cigar into the tube. The movement of the sprcaders or blades is caused by the peasage of the cigar, the forward end of the cigar striking against the forward'ends of the blades and moving them as described, the concave cross section of the blades serving to guide the cigar with precision into the pouch, the panels of which are held by the transfer wheel and by the sucker head. After the cigars have passed the spreader it is moved by the springs to its normal position.

The movement of the cigar is performed in timed relation to the intermittent movement of the transfer wheel and the sucker head by means of a reciprocating plunger as which is adjustably secured by set screw QI in a head 02. This head is attached to a slide 94 movable in slideways formed in a bracket 95 attached to the underside of the table i. A pin s6 is secured to the under- V side of the slide and is connected by link 91 to one end of a lever 98, pivoted at 99 to the underside of the table. The opposite end of the lever is connected by link 1100 to a pin IOI depending from a slide bar I02 carried at its forward end in a guiding bracket I08 attached to the undersurface of the table 4. Near the rear end on the sliding bar is mounted a roller I05 which is received in a cam groove or track I 06 on the upper face of a revolving cam I01 carried by and connected to a vertical shaft I08 in a vertical bearing I09 on the table. The end of the sliding bar is provided with a slot I I0 which is receivable over the shaft I08, by which the slide bar is guided in conjunction with the bracket I03. The central portion of the slide bar is also provided with a slotted portion III at the point where it intersects the sleeve I9.

It will be observed that the operation of the parts just' described moves the forward cigar I from its position at the head of the row or file through the spreader and into the mouth of the pouch, the movement of the plunger being continued until the cigar is fully seated in the pouch against a stop 2 on the table 4 (Figure 10). The cigar supporting surface may be grooved as shown at I I3 to guide the cigar in its forward movement and an extension H4 may be provided .to hold the cigar from tipping downwardly,

Discharging mechanism The loaded pouch is then removed from the position in which it was filled, this operation being performed as the feed drum is moved forward so that the vacuum holding the upper side of the pouch is released by the movement of the passage 45 out of alignment with the channel iii. The removal of the cigar is performed by a pusher I20 which is fixed to the forward end of a slide I2I mounted in guideways I22 on the top of the table 4. Attached to the slide is a bracket I 23 having a roller I24 at the side of the cam shaft 82. A com I25 on the shaft moves the slide at the proper intervals and for the distance required to move the loaded pouch out of its loading position. A spring I8t attached to the slide and to the bracket I returns the slide after the discharging operation.

As the loaded pouches are moved by the operation of the discharge mechanism, the ends of the pouches are guided in a longitudinal groove I in the face of the stop II2, this groove extending the length of the stop except where it is cut away as shown at I4I to permit the folded end of the pouch to move downwardly as the cigar is moved into it. I

As the loaded pouches are moved forward over the table they are held down by two rails I spaced above the table and pivoted on the lower ends of posts I46 which are in turn supported by a cross bar I61 secured upon an upright I40 rising from the table. The ends of the rails I50 may extend to or near the periphery of the transfer drum in alignment with the rings 86 to insure the stripping of the loaded pouches from the transfer drum.

of varied forms and has not been illustrated in connection with the present invention.

Driving mechanism The machine is driven by any suitable means, that illustrated comprising a pulley I52 on a drive shaft I 53'mounted in bearings I54 on the table 4. The pulley and drive shaft may be connected or disconnected at the will of the operator I by means of a clutch I55, the operation of which is controlled by a clutch shifting lever 'I 56 pivoted at I51 to a bracket I58 extending from the table 4. The lower end of the lever I50 is pivoted to a rod I59 which is connected to an operating rod I60 movable in bearings I62 on posts I. The rod I60 is moved by means of a cam I63 mounted upon a transverse shaft I64 journalled in bearings I65 at the front of the machine, and having operating'handles I06. The cam I63 is arranged to bear against a vertical wall of a bracket I61 connected to the rod I60.

The driving shaft I53 may also bemoved by means of a hand wheel I68 attached to the .end thereof.

Located on the shaft I53 is a pinion I10 which engages a gear "I freely rotatable on the shaft 40 of the transfer drum at one side of the bracket 42. Carried on the face of the gear III is the pivoted pawl I'I2 which is moved inwardly by the spring I14 also mounted on the gear (Figures 4 and 7). Fixed to the shaft 40 is the indexing wheel IIB which is provided with four notches II'I corresponding to the four arms 44. The shaft 40 is designed to be'rotated one step for each complete revolution of the gear I H and this operation is performed by providing the fixed disk I80 which loosely surrounds the hub of the indexingwheel and lies against its face, being attached to the bracket I8I secured to the table. The end of the pawl I12 rides on the outer edge of the d'sk I80 which keeps it out of engagement with the several notches except during one quarter of its revolution. At its'upper edge the disk is cut away as shown at I82 for a suflicient distance to enable the pawl to engage a n'otch I11 and move the wheel I16 and the shaft 40 until the pawl is again raised out of engage- By the mechanism described the transfer wheel is given its one-quarter intermittent movement while the remainder of the machine is completing a single operation.

The transfer wheel is kept in stationary position during the operation of the loading mechanism by means of a spring pressed roller I83 which engages with one of four equally spaced notches in a disk I secured to the shaft 40.

The gear I'll engages and drives a gear I" on the main or cam shaft 32 and the cam shaft is provided with a bevel pinion I86 which'drives a like bevel pinion Ill on the vertical shaft I08 which rotates the plunger cam Ill.

Operation It is believed that the operation of the machine will have been made clear as the description of the several parts has been given. The magazine being filled with the pouches, individual pouches are removed from the bottom of the stack in the magazine, as the latter is raised and lowered by the cam N, by the operation of the suction in the transfer wheel. As the wheel revolves it brings the individual pouches to position at the lower side of the wheel and as the wheel is stationary, the sucker ill is moved upward, seizes the mouth of the pouch and on its downward movement opens it as shown in Figure 4, this operation occurring in time to clear the end of the cigar.

The forward cigar is then fed into the pouch through the spreader or funnel which is operated by the passage of the cigar and spreads the mouth of the pouch to its fully opened position. The

plunger then withdraws and the transfer wheel moves to its next position, at which time the ejecting plunger operates to move the cigar out of the loading position. The suction on the several faces of the transfer wheel is continued for 180 from the point at which the pouch is removed from the magazine until the cigar is loaded in the pouch and is ready for removal.

It will be seen that there has been devised a useful and efllcient machine which will take the single pouches from the stack, open them and flll them with cigars. The machine is entirely automatic and being run in timed relation to the output of a banding'machine, it will effectively load the output of that machine in the prepared pouches. Various improvements or alterations may be made on the machine and the principles of the machine may be employed in other or specifically diiferent forms. The problem of filling the light, fragile regenerated cellulose pouches has been solved, although the machine is not inany manner confined to that particular use.

The machine is illustrated as holding the pouches in a horizontal position. It is apparent, however, that the novel features of the machine are adaptable to operate on containers to be held in a vertical position with an open end up for loading.

It will be understood that, as this machine is a pioneer machine for the purposes set forth, the appended claims are not to be limited in scope to duplicates of the mechanism shown, for it is possible to embody the principles of the invention in other forms than that shown.

When the word "pouch" or container" is used in the specification and claims it is intended to include all sorts of envelopes or wrappers, either in the exact form shown, open at both ends. or at 2,109,981 I ment with the notch by the contour of the disk.

one end only and in tubular, plicated or any other cross section to hold a single cigar or a group of cigars, or any other materials. Neither is the machine limited to the packaging of cigars, and where the term "cigars" is used in the specification and claims, it is intended to include mate- I in contact with each other and movable into the mouth of the container by the passage of a load therebetween, means whereby movement of said blades into the mouth of the container causes said blades to separate and to hold said mouth in open position, and means" to load the container while held in open position.

2. A machine of the character described comprising suction holding means movable into contact with opposite sides of a pouch-like container and separable to open one end thereof, a

funnel comprising two concave oppositely pivoted blades having tapering ends normally in contact with each other and adapted to enter the mouth of the container by the passage of a load therebetween, means whereby movement of said blades into said mouth causes said tapering ends to spread and hold said mouth open, and means to load the container while held in open position.

3. A machine'of the character described comprising suction holding means movable into contact with opposite sides of a. pouch-like container and separable to open one end thereof, and a combined guide and spreader comprising a pair of opposite blades having tapering ends normally in contact with each other and movable into the mouth of the container by the passage of a load therebetween, v and means of the container causes said blades to separate and to hold said mouth in open position.

4. A machine of the character described comprising suction holding means movable into contact with opposite sides of a pouch-like container and separable to open one end thereof, a funnel comprising two concave oppositely pivoted blades having tapering ends normally in contact with each other and adapted to enter the mouthpf the container by the passage of a load therebetween, and means whereby movement of said blades into said mouth causes said tapering ends to spread and hold .said mouth open.

5. In a machine, the combination of a magazine for pouches, an intermittently movable transfer drum having suction openings on its face, means to maintain a partial vacuum there,- on during a portion of the rotation of the drum,

means to feed pouches on to the drum, means for opening the pouches while so held, a loading device operable while the pouch is opened, and means to relieve-the vacuum after the loading operation and to remove the loaded pouch.

6. In a machine for the purposes set forth the combination of suction means for holding a container, means for moving a cigar longitudinally into the container, and an expansible spreader comprising yielding, oppositely pivoted blades located in the path of the cigar and having normally converging ends adapted to enter theend of the container, movement of said blades into said container causing said blades to expand, the spreader being movable into the container by the passage of the cigar.

'7. In a machine for the purposes set forth, the combination of suction means for holding a container, means for moving a cigar longitudinally into the container,and a pair of oppositely pivoted yielding blades normally held with their ends directed toward the mouth ,of the container and movable in diverging arcs so that the ends of the blades spread as they enter the mouth or the container, the spreader beingmovable into the container by the passage or the cigar therebe-= tween.

8. In a machine for the purposes set forth, the combination of suction means for holding a container, an expansible prised of apair of yieldingly mounted blades normally held with the ends directed toward the mouth of the container and movable in diverging paths so that they spread as they enter the mouth of the container, and means for moving a cigar through the spreader, the spreader being movable into the container by the passage of the cigar therebetween.

9. In a machine for the purposes set forth, the combination of means for holding a container, an expansible spreader and guide comprised of a pair of yieldingly mounted blades normally held with the ends directed toward the mouth of the container and movable in diverging paths so that they spread as they enter the mouth of the container, means for moving a cigar through the spreader, the spreader being movable into the container by the passage of the cigar *therebetween, and suction means for opening the container to receive the spreader.

10. In a machine for the purposes set forth, the combination of means for holding acontainer, an

expansible spreader and guide comprised of a pair of yieldingly mounted blades normally held with.

the ends directed toward the mouth of the container and movable in diverging paths to enter the mouth of the container, means for moving acigar through the spreader, the spreader being movable into the container by the passage of the cigar therebetween, and suction means contacting opposite sides of the container and separable to open the same to receive the spreader.

11. In a machine for the purposes set forth, the combination of suction means for holding a container, an expansible spreader and guide com prised of a pair of yieldingly oppositely pivoted blades normally held with the ends directed toward the mouth of the container and movable in diverging arcs so that they expand as they" enter the mouth of the container, and means for moving a cigar through the spreader, the spreader being movable into the container by the passage of the cigar therebetween.

12. In a machine for the purposes set forth, the combination of suction holding means movable into contact with opposite sides of'a pouch-like container and separable to openone end thereof, loading means for inserting a load into the con tainer, and an expansible spreader comprising yielding oppositely-pivoted blades located in the path of the load and having normally converg ing ends adapted to enter the end of the container, movement of said spreader into said container causing said spreader to spreader being movable into the container by the action of the loading means.

spreader and guide'comthe drum,

expand, the

13. In a machine for the purposes set forth, the combination of suction holding means movable into contact with opposite sides of a pouch-like container and separable to open one end thereof, loading means forinserting a load into the container, a pair of oppositely-pivoted yielding blades normally held with their ends directed toward the mouth of the container and movable in diverging arcs so that the ends of the "blades spread as they enter the mouth of the container, the spreader being movable into the container by the passage of the load therebetween.

14. In a machine for the purposes set forth, the combination of suction holding means movable into contact with opposite sides of a pouch-like container and separable to open one end thereof, an expansible spreader and guide comprised of a pair of yieldingly mounted blades normally held with the ends directed toward the mouth oi the container and movable in diverging paths so that they spread as they enter the mouth of the container, and means for loading the container through the spreader, the spreader being movable into the container by the passage of the load therebetween. 1

15. In a machine for the purposes set forth, the combination of means for holding a container, an expansible spreader and guide comprised of a pair of yieldingly mounted blades normally held with the ends directed toward the mouth of the container and movable in diverging paths so that they spread as they enter the mouth of the container, means for loading the container through the spreader, and suction means for opening the container to receive the spreader, the spreader being movable into the container by the passage of the load therebetween.

16. In a machine for the purposes set forth, the combination of means for holding a container, an expansilole spreader and guide comprised of a pair of yieldingly mounted blades normally held with the ends directed toward the mouth of the container and movable in diverging paths to enter the mouth of the container, means for loading the container through the spreader, the spreader being movable into the container by the passage of the load therebetween, and suction means contacting opposite sides of the container and sepaof the container and movable in diverging arcs so that they expand as they enter the mouth of the container, and means for loading the container through the spreader, the spreader being movable into the container by the passage of the load therebetween.

18. In a machine, the combination of a magazine for pouches, a movable transfer drum having suction openings on its face, means to maintaih a partial vacuum thereon during a portion of the rotation of the drum, means to feed pouches on to means for opening the pouches while so-held, a loading device operable while the pouch is opened, and means to relieve the vacuum after the loading operation and to remove the loaded pouch. g

ISAAC A. HARDY. 

